Category: Geeks r Us
hi. is there an alternative to Microsoft Office that is accessible and free?
I have to open .docx and .xlsx files.
I tried openoffice.org several years ago and it was horribly inaccessible and caused Jaws to flip out. Unless something has changed, I wouldn't recommend that one.
You might try iCloud.com for Apple's versions of word processing (Pages) and spreadsheets (Numbers.) I don't know much about using the web versions of these so again, this is just a WAG (Wild Ass Guess.)
Hopefully someone else will have other ideas.
Is there a particular reason you're looking for an alternative to office? I can't say much about 2013 and above, but 2010 is pretty accessible. I found 2003, still my favorite version I've used, quite accessible too, and you can get converters to open .docx files.
Libre Office is mostly accessible with both Jaws NVDA. So is Open Office, from what I've heard, although I haven't tried it. The only issue you're going to run into is that you can't issue the say all command inside a document, at least not with NVDA. Also, it has an odd focus issue where, when you first open a document, nothing is read at all. To fix this, simply press your alt key to get to the menu bar, and then hit escape, and the document should read normally again. libre Office can handle .docx files, so that won't be an issue for you.
Best of all, it has no stupid ribbons!
If you just want something small and lightweight, and don't really need to do anything extensive like edit HTML docs or create/edit tables, there's also Jart, which is fully accessible. I don't know if it can open .docx files (it's been forever since I've used it) but I would bet there's a plugin to make it do that.
You can use Office online free if you sign up for a Microsoft account and office. Jaws 17 supports it.
It isn't like having the paid version, but works.
Jaws 17 supports Google setup as well it is said from Freedom Scientific.
How good these are it up to opinion. It depends on what all you need.
I like Office 2016 much. If you only have 1 computer it is 5 bucks per month well spent.
I pay 10 and can have it on 5 computers and 5 mobile devices.
Plus aI get a TB of storage each device if that matters.
I forgot. Googles setup still has some issues, but they claim to be working on it.
thanks guys. specially to turtle. i'll check this out.
@ remy.
I have to open .docx and .xlsx files for my work.
If it is for your work wouldn't the investment of a good solid office suite be worth the money?
Not only will you have this feature, you'd have Outlook, and other programs, plus the ability to store files in the cloud for access from other computers or locations.
You have the ability to work at one location, go to another and still have full access of that file to work on it too.
Hello,
I've tried out LibraOffice and liked it. There should be a portable Apps version of it soon, if you don't wish to install it. Jarte is fully accessible and there's the Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office system to open up docx files. Jarte is also available in a Portable Apps version. This is with Jaws 15, and or NVDA latest version on Win 7 Pro 64 bit.
Thanks for the confirmation that jart can open .docx files. As I said, Jart isn't a full office suite by any stretch of the imagination, but it does work for basic word processing if you don't want to use Wordpad.
I tried jarte. and it works. just had to install the pluggIn for .docx files.
thanks again y'all.
@ forereel
i'm kinda broke right now. :D
I will try libreOffice next.
Here's LibraOffice Portable. You can try it out without having to install it to your system. If you like it, you can install it in either 32 or 64 bit depending on your system type.
http://portableapps.com/apps/office/libreoffice_portable
yay thanks ���spike���
Your welcome, rusty81. I'll check out LibraOffice's accessibility for myself since its been awhile since *I've done so.